Integrated automatic telephone switch

• US 8,923,539 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Bren, Mark A., Hagen, Lawrence T., Roberts, Randall W., Peterson, Timothy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): DABNEY, PHYLESHA LARVINIA
• Application Number:
  US13/601,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20130108093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/313, 381/315, 381317-318, 381320-321, 381328-331
• US Class Current: 381/317
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/43 Electronic input selection or mixing based on input signal analysis, e.g. mixing or selection between microphone and telecoil or between microphones with different directivity characteristics H04R25/407 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/453 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/50 Customised settings for obtaining desired overall acoustical characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for a hearing aid include a mechanism to detect the presence of a magnetic field using a magnetic sensing device disposed in a hearing aid, to digitally modify a frequency response of the hearing aid in response to the detection of the presence, and to modify the frequency response of the hearing aid in response to the magnetic sensing device determining removal of the magnetic field.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sensing an acoustic signal using a microphone in a hearing assistance device;

producing an electrical signal representative of the acoustic signal using the microphone;

processing the electrical signal using a signal processor in the hearing assistance device;

detecting a presence of a magnetic field at a programmable threshold produced by a voice communication device using a magnetic sensor disposed in the hearing assistance device;

in response to the detection of the presence of the magnetic field, automatically modifying the processing of the electrical signal by the signal processor conforming to a prescription target; and

in response to the magnetic sensor determining removal of the magnetic field, further automatically modifying the processing of the electrical signal by the signal processor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the processing in response to the detection of the presence of the magnetic field includes attenuating high frequencies in the electrical signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the processing in response to the detection of the presence of the magnetic field includes adjusting amplification.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the processing in response to the detection of the presence of the magnetic field includes adjusting noise reduction.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the processing in response to the detection of the presence of the magnetic field includes adjusting digital filtering.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a presence of a magnetic field includes using a solid state sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a presence of a magnetic field includes using a Hall effect semiconductor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a presence of a magnetic field includes using a saturable core device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a presence of a magnetic field includes using a magneto-resistive sensor.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice communication device includes a phone.

11. A hearing assistance device, comprising:

a microphone configured to sense an acoustic signal and to provide an electrical signal representative of the acoustic signal;

a signal processor configured to process the electrical signal for hearing correction for a wearer of the hearing assistance device; and

a magnetic sensor configured to detect a presence of a magnetic field at a programmable threshold produced by a voice communication device,

wherein the signal processor is configured to automatically modify the processing of the electrical signal conforming to a prescription target in response to the detection of the presence of the magnetic field and to further modify the processing of the electrical signal in response to the magnetic sensor determining removal of the presence of the magnetic field.

12. The hearing assistance device of claim 11, wherein the magnetic sensor includes a solid state sensor.

13. The hearing assistance device of claim 11, wherein the magnetic sensor includes a hall effect semiconductor.

14. The hearing assistance device of claim 11, wherein the magnetic sensor includes a saturable core device.

15. The hearing assistance device of claim 11, wherein the magnetic sensor includes a magneto-resistive sensor.

16. The hearing assistance device of claim 11, wherein the hearing assistance device includes a hearing aid.

17. The hearing assistance device of claim 16, wherein the hearing aid includes a behind the ear hearing aid.

18. The hearing assistance device of claim 16, wherein the hearing aid includes an in the ear hearing aid.

19. The hearing assistance device of claim 16, wherein the hearing aid includes an in the canal hearing aid.

20. The hearing assistance device of claim 16, wherein the hearing aid includes an implanted hearing aid.